The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-12-26
THE TWO LEADERS.
Reed and Mills and What will Happen
When They Meet.

Washington Despatch TO Lewiston JournaLl
Now 1t is settled that Mills Is to be chair
man Of the ways and means committee, ii Is
perhaps not entirely out Of place to contrast
the leaders Of the two sides Of the House.
Mills is man perhaps IS years Of age. He
is rather tall, and his hair moustache and
goatee are tinged with gray. Although he
has been in Congress nearly fifteen years he
has done absolutely nothing excepting to
yell for free trade. On the question Of the
tariff he has been regarded as a sort Of a
fanatic, and the more conservative Demo-
Gratis have locked upon him as a man who
should be controlled with a curb-blt. Mills
has high tenor voices, and uses the regular
Texan accent. He has a great fashion Of
moving his long arms above his head and
screaming at the top Of his voice when max
ing a speech in the House. Usually nobody
got possession Of the floor the House settled
back with the general idea that Il was about
to suffer an intliction from which IL could
not escape. Last year he was not even
thought OF as possibility as Tar as the
leadership of the Democratic side was con-
cerned. This year he bobs up serenely upon
every opportunity, and invariably obtains
the Speakers eye. This Is the man upon
whom the administration Is willing to en-
trust the fate Of its tariff measure.
Tom Reed is Mills opposite in almost
every particular. He Is tall blonde-that
is to say, the slight sample of hair on his
head Is light and his eyes are deep brown.
There Is an expression OF boyishness on
his fat, round face, but otherwise he Is Of
aldermanie proportions. Mills would have
to be introduced to q joke. Reed, on the
other hand, Is full ofwitand sarcasm There
is but lite hum0r In him. His wit Is always
ly cuts to the quick. As ten-mlnute
speaker he has not his equal in Congress
Mills Is nothing II pot windy and verbose
Reed Is sharp, incislve and direct 1t would
take Mills an hour to explain pro-
position which Reed would elucidate in five
minutes. But above all, Reed Is better
general on the floor. SO far, the Republican
side has never failed to follow him TO man,
because he takes pains to first find out what
Republicans what. There are no dessen-
sions among the Republicans, no differences
of opinion which might work TO the disad-
vantage Of the party, and what Is still more,
the members have the utmost confidence in
Reeds judgment and ability. Mills, on the
other hand, has none of the qualities which
would draw men about him. He has no mag
netism, he Is ever arbitrary and never cOnell-
iatOry, and the simple truth Is, there Is an
utter lack OF confidence In his ability on the
Democratic side Of the House. Some time
ago, Mills made bitter personal attack up
on Randall. The Pennsylvania has never
been noted for having fOrgiving nature, and
up to date he appears to be about the same
sam Randall that he always has been. Mills NILS
attempted TO explain the matter since Con
gress met but Randall has never even taken
notice Of this semi-apOlogy' He IS quietly
waiting as usual and when the time comes
he will see that no tariff bill passes which
will tend 10 destroy the great Industries Of
the country which have grown up under the
fostering care OF the protective system. At
the outset Mills will be taxed with the ques-
tion Of reconciliation within the ranks OF his
own party, to say nothing OF the antagonism
Of the Republicans led by the astute Reed.
Personally. Roger Queer Mills Is pleasant,
genial gentleman, and so is Thomas B
Reed, but when they meet in a hot debate
the scene will remind US Of the terrier and
the rat. It's dollars TO buttons that Reed
won't be the rat either,